Firstly, I would like to apologise if I have placed this in the wrong forum - as I see it, some of my points are covered in a number of the sub forums, and thus thought it made most sense to post it in the general Canada forum. Again, I am sorry if this is wrong, and I accept it if this thread is moved.

My friends and I are planning to apply for the 2013 IEC cohort when it is released in December/January, and we plan to base ourselves in Vancouver upon our arrival. My purpose in making this thread is that I was interested in discussing some of the elements and parts of making this trip.

Contrary to the views of many, we have made the decision to organise and make the move with the assistance of BUNAC. I am very aware that BUNAC fee is quite expensive (at £254), but we have considered it to be a worthy expense. The three of us are incredibly busy with work commitments and the rest, so we thought that it would make the whole process far easier, insofar as principal concerns about the IEC, accommodation, and employment are 'taken care of' in the short term. We are all in the fortunate position in which we can save large parts of our wages and salaries for moving, so dropping the money on the BUNAC element of organisation is worth doing. Do you think this is reasonable? We are just concerned about taking on so much of the organisation by ourselves when, in reality, there is just so much to look over between now and December.

When it comes to accommodation, we are a little unsure. In the short term, we plan to use hostels (simply because of the ease and cost). The problem arises in that we are travelling as a trio. Obviously, very few (if any) hostels have 3-bed rooms, and therefore we will be subjected to having another in our room (or, rather, the poor traveller will be subjected to having us ). We talked briefly about the idea of renting an actual place, but we don't want to consider that option until we are there and settled. We are well-aware of the current housing prices in Vancouver (yet, I am unsure of the specific effect that it would have on the flat/apartment rental market). What would any of you recommend in this situation?

Employment is a tricky one. We are all somewhat recent university graduates (2011; one of my companions is just finishing his MA at the moment), with some degree of casual work experience. Our central desire in taking this trip was to experience a different lifestyle in a new place (we all need a break from England, we feel). Because of this, we are not *overly* fussed about what jobs we do, but we would still be after enjoyable jobs. Leisure, experience, and fun are what we want to take away from this trip, but we would still want employment that is different and unique. From talking to other people that have done this trip before (including my brother, who did six months in Toronto in 2010), many IECers take work in bars, restaurants, and other casual places. Whilst we all consider these to be reasonable options (taking into account the whole tipping culture), I personally have been interested in what office-based work is available. At an entry level position, what kind of qualifications are required for office work in Canada? Whilst taking this trip is about experiencing a new place and a new culture, I am still interested in seeing how I can use the opportunity to develop professionally and in terms of a career. Is that fair? What kind of jobs would be good to consider when moving to urban Canada?

Without sounding too much like a tourist, we are really excited about travelling there to live and see a new place and environment. We could live and work anywhere in England with a quarter of the organisation, but we feel that taking this trip is something that one can only do once in a lifetime. Taking that view, what things would you consider unmissable in taking this trip? We want to take away experiences and memories from this adventure, so what would the community recommend in order to have those?

Thanks very much for reading, and I'm sorry if my questions come across as a little weird. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

As you have said, hospitality is the traditional business for WHV holders. Many employers recruit for a season and this matches the desires of many people who want to work for a while and then see a bit of the country in their time here.

I am not saying you cannot get office based work that will enhance your professional career, but it is going to be a lot more difficult. Look at it from an employer's point of view. They have an entry level position to fill. The ideal candidate will learn a lot in the position that will help them become more skilled and therefore more useful as time goes on. Do you give that job to a local person who is looking to have a career here, or do you give it to someone who will likely be gone in a year or so?

Your challenge is to work out how to present a better proposition to the employer than the local career seeker. Why should the employer hire you rather than the local?

When I went back to work a lot of agencies wanted to know if I was staying in Canada long term (I guess because a lot of Kiwis come over on WHVs) so I think JBE is onto something there. I think temping is your best bet for getting a foot in the door in office work - join recruitment agencies. Just be prepared for it to not be stable. Sometimes there just isn't a lot of work around.

What do you want to do?

Hi T-Dog, using Bunac makes sense. They help you get your SIN number and do have an office in Vancouver which can help things get started with work and accomodation.
My advice is if you and your friends play any sports, (for me it was rugby) contact the local teams here and say you are coming over and interested in joining their team/club. I did that in 2005/6, the rugby club helped me get set up with a job, and it was an immediate social circle which made life much easier.
I immigrated back out her 2 and half years ago and still play for the same rugby club, they helped me lots to get settled.
You will find that Vancouver does have lots of work available but it is a very who you know rather than what you know culture. (in my experience)
If any of you or your friends play rugby let me know! We always have bunacers arriving each year and we ge them started almost right away with labouring jobs.

Hi guys!

Just out of curiosity, how much do recruitment agencies pay for temping roles roughly? I've received my LOI but I'm going to be basing myself in Toronto.

Indeed, and that is why I am assuming and most interested in doing quite casual service/hospitality work. As I said in my first message, we are viewing work as a financial means for us to support ourselves and our activities. We want to go and have a good time and explore, and as a result the actual working activity is not of principal concern.

Exactly, and that is what I assumed. I'm not expecting to be able to find anything when I move there, but I will still consider it to be an option. I'm more concerned about being able to find something, and that the work might be at least somewhat enjoyable.
Exactly, yes. I've considered looking into agencies (as that is what I have been using at times here as well). Whilst I will have some savings with me when I go, I need to find myself an income quickly, and thus I need to find a stable form of employment.

As for what I want to do, that is something of which I am unsure. For me, this trip is not about particular professional development per se; we want to get out there, experience the people and the place, and just have fun. Finding a job and earning money is fundamentally important in achieving that, and it is important that we are able to find something.
Hi there!
Our reasoning behind opting for BUNAC was because the whole process is just so much more simple. Since we are all balancing work and other commitments, we have all been concerned about being able to balance and ensure that all of the organisation would be covered. Having the help and support on both ends is fantastic and serves to ease much of our concern. Considering this is the first trip like this that any of us has done, the fact that the whole process is streamlined will hopefully make it far less of a headache for us.

That's some really great advice, and I'll keep that in mind. I don't play many sports, but one of my companions is used to play a bit of rugby. I have a couple of friends and contacts over in Vancouver, so I'm interested to see how useable they may be in terms of trying to find employment and the rest.

I agree with goodpikey's advice. Anyway you can get to meet lots of people is good. It is amazing how often someone knows someone who knows someone who has a job to fill.

I don't know when you plan to come over but in late summer the ski resorts often have recruitment fairs to sign up staff for the winter season.

I was there in 2005-2006 via BUNAC, I used them for the same reason, they organized visa etc, although regards to them helping with work....well you're on your own. I signed up with multiple temp agencies, I managed to get one position within hbc for several weeks, then another temp job for the remainder of the year, but that was via a contact. Both jobs were admin based, I didn't want to work in bars, I wanted weekends to go out and enjoy the place at times the majority of Canadians were out. It is tough finding half decent work but as long as you're determined I'm sure you'll find something. It took me a month.

What is it your concerned about organising mate? You might need to be prepared incase there is no Bunac. The reserved visa's are be phased out by CIC and with next year being year 3 of the IEC Bunac might be no more, Not with a reserved visa anyway. I'm just guessing when this might happen though.
December is a long way away and it seems overwhelming but in reality there is not much to organize and its very easy

Haha, I'll definitely keep that in mind. I actually have a family friends and friend's friends over there, and I'm interested what might come up when I get talking to them. As I've said, I'll be happy with most kind of jobs over there, as I'm not necessarily going for professional development.
Yeah of course - the whole visa thing, as well as the constant kind of support that they have in place is definitely quite attractive. For a person like me, who has never done a trip like this before, it serves to ease much of my worry and concern about the whole thing.

I have always known and assumed that the work thing would be quite difficult. That is why I'm not trying to be too picky. I would be happy with taking the vast majority of work there, simply because I just want the work to sustain me for the duration of my stay. Again, I have been expecting for it to be around a month before a job would come up - my brother had a very similar experience.
Of course, and that is why I have been reading about the process on the CIC pages and places such as here. I'm not sure on what evidence you have made that assertion, but I know of nothing that would have suggested that to be the case. Besides, I have never known of BUNAC to have 'reserved visas' - I was under the impression that BUNAC, as well the other WH providers and independent travellers, were all subject to the fixed number for each intake (approximately 5000). Even if BUNAC had reserved visas which they came to lose, I would still be in the same situation. We are applying for the 2013 IEC as soon as it comes out, so demand on a scarce supply should not be an option.

I mean, we probably could do the whole visa application by ourselves and that wouldn't be a problem, but that isn't our sole reason for being interested in using BUNAC. We want to use them because there is help and support on both sides of it. We are are incredibly inexperienced when it comes to trips like this, so it serves to make the whole thing far less difficult and stressful.

Bunac had reserved visa's last year when the IEC was first introduced (around 500) and I was under the impression they had them this year too but maybe they have already been cut out. It was explained on the IEC and CIC website this and last year.
Of course you can always purchase the support package much like the work NZ or OZ program. Bunac has a good sales pitch but in reality don't offer that much. They will not do your visa application, get you a job or find you accommodation. I guess they do sometimes have job fairs in the UK.
Obviously do whatever you think is best for yourself though. Like I said before it can seem overwhelming but there's all the help and support you need on this forum I'm just of the opinion that your coin will be more usefull in getting settled in Canada

I believe that BUNAC still have X amount of VISA's. Not sure if its still 500, but they do have a limited amount. I have considered doing 2013 through BUNAC, but after reading more and more posts on here I have deceided against this.

It just seems for what you get from them, its not worth the premium you pay. I mean, yeah, they help you get a SIN and put you up in a hostel for the first night, but, doing these things yourself is not exactly difficult, or time consuming.

The only thing that would make me want to go through BUNAC is to go on a group flight, but I'm not paying 200+ quid just for this privillage.

Sorry, I haven't been any help, just wanted to get my opinion in there. =]

I went through BUNAC on my first IEC. They never helped me at all. Basically, the only reason I did it was to get a Guaranteed spot. The group flight you have to pay for on top of the fee -like the cost of the flight I mean, and I really don't think iti s worth it as you have to do all the IEC paper work yourself.

I know they have less places every year now, and they are trying to phase the BUNAC program out from having Guaranteed IEC positions.

Totally, plus the group flights are through BA (or similar) and therefore cost 600+, when you could get a flight on Airtransat (which isnt as nice) for a third of the price.

I've never done the IEC before, but I would suggest to the OP that if you and your friends are marginally clued up people, you could apply without going through BUNAC, and therefore saving a bit of money, which you can go spend in canadanandanda

Yes applying for the IEC is very very easy!